Projects of IAF
Current Projects
Research project
VIRAS: Accessible Shopping
The ILT Institute for Lab Automation and Mechatronics at OST is developing an autonomous shopping cart for blind and visually impaired people in close cooperation with Swiss associations for the blind. VIRAS navigates them through the store and helps identify the desired product on the shelf.
Research project
“InGe Dialogue” The Use of an Innovative Dialogue Format to Promote Intergenerational Encounters in Nursing Homes and Childcare Centers
Intergenerational programs foster encounters between young and old and strengthen social cohesion. Despite their potential, stable structures for the sustainable integration of such programs in care institutions are lacking in Switzerland. This project addresses this gap by bringing together various stakeholders within a dialogue…
Research project
Tandem Finance – Tackling the Silent Burden of Financial Caregiving
The Tandem-Finance project lays the foundation for an innovative digital platform in the field of financial caregiving, enabling older adults to retain greater autonomy as they age while reducing the burden on caregivers. The goal is to develop a secure, user-friendly tool that can be integrated into e-banking solutions and is…
Research project
Age Innovation Prize 2026–2028: Strategic Partnership with the Age Stiftung
From 2026 to 2028, the Age Innovation Prize (AIP) will continue through a strategic partnership between the Institute for Ageing Research IAF at OST and the Age Stiftung. The AIP supports both technological and social innovations that improve the lives of older people in Switzerland.
Research project
Luma Life – Transfer of current findings from dementia research into AI companions to support people with early-stage dementia and their families in the home environment
Luma Life is developing a platform for voice-first AI companions to support people with early-stage dementia at home. As part of this Innovation cheque project, the team of the Institute for Ageing Research IAF conducts a literature search, which will be translated into an interaction model together with Luma Life, aiming to…
Research project
Creating Age-friendly Communities for Older People: A Case and Implementation Study on Ibasho
In the framework of the Japanese concept and project Ibasho (founder: Dr. Emi Kiyota), integrative, local caring communities are developed, launched, and maintained together with and by older adults.
Research project
TIGA– Transformative Intergenerational Gastronomy in Eldery Care Facilities
TIGA focuses on creative impulses to bring more life to the gastronomy of elder care facilities and fosters innovative meeting places that go beyond traditional dining. The emphasis is on social participation, joy of life, and intergenerational dialogue. Together with residents, professionals, and external partners, new spaces for…
Expired Projects
Research project
Digital Skills 50+
Digital skills and training needs of people 50+
Research project
Covid-19 Ageism: Age Discrimination in Times of the Covid-19 Pandemic.On the subjective experiences of people aged 65 and over in German-speaking Switzerland
Against the background of the classification of persons aged 65 and over as a risk group in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Institute for Research on Ageing investigated how persons in this age group experienced the initial months of the pandemic and what their subjective experiences of ageism were during this period.
…Research project
Successful use of service robotics in elderly care and nursing through human-centred design
The successful use of service robots in elderly care and nursing requires the consideration of different dimensions (people, technology, business, law).
Research project
Identity constructions for retirement: contents and processes of identity work in the transition to the post-acquisition phase
In the course of demographic change, a growing number of people in Switzerland are reaching retirement age. For those affected, retirement is accompanied by diverse and drastic changes and in this sense can be seen as a particularly sensitive period of life for coming to terms with one's own identity.
Research project
Robot "NAO" in action: promoting movement for older people
Robots are increasingly being used to assist older people.
Research project
Digital divide - What do older employees really need in the context of digital transformation?
The project in cooperation between the HR-Panel New Work and the Institute of Age Research dealt with the question to what extent an age-related digital divide is perceived in companies and what role age-discriminatory prejudices play in this context.
Research project
Instant messaging and social relationships: Effects of WhatsApp use on the subjectively experienced quality and shaping of social relationships of persons 65+
Against the background of a significant increase in internet use by older people (65+), also on mobile devices, the project addresses the question of what effects the use of WhatsApp has on the subjectively experienced quality and the shaping of social relationships of users aged 65+.
Research project
Mobility needs of people 65+
In order to develop a product that supports the mobility of older people and meets their needs, senior citizens are involved in the development of the product from the very beginning.
Research project
Testing the PARO robotic seal on socially isolated nursing home residents
The robotic seal PARO was developed in Japan for therapeutic use with people suffering from dementia. In a current project, the Interdisciplinary Competence Centre Ageing is investigating the effect of PARO in an expanded context.
Research project
Development and testing of a questionnaire on the topic of "Robots as support for older people".
The topic of "robots as support for older people" is highly topical. So far, however, there is little knowledge about the actual attitudes, fears and hopes of the Swiss population regarding this topic.
Research project
Affective factors of robot acceptance among people 60+
Against the backdrop of the societal challenges posed by demographic change and the expected shortage of skilled workers in the care sector, the use of robots to assist in care or service activities for older people is being discussed.
Research project
Needs assessment in the communities of Speicher and Trogen for community residents 65+
A needs assessment is to be carried out to find out how community residents aged 65+ would like to live and reside and what needs arise in this context.